Free Dress Pattern Download for Mendocino Fabrics!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at 01:32PM 
This is my most favorite summer dress: simple, chic, comfy, lovely. I have had students (at Purl Patchwork) of every shape and size make and wear this dress, it truly works on everybody. The bodice features super stretchy elasticized smocking, a trick anyone with a home-sewing machine and elastic thread (first thing to know: you put the elastic thread in your bobbin, NOT your needle thread!) can master. My instructions include a few pointers, and you can also find useful tips here. The skirt is nice and full and can be hemmed at a variety of lengths, and features two hidden on-seam pockets.
I am thrilled to offer the pattern for this fun little dress as a free download for a limited time, while my newest line of printed fabrics, Mendocino, makes it's debut. You will find that the buttery-soft Mendocino prints (as well as my West Hill Collection) will work perfectly for this style.
You will need to download both the pattern instructions and the pattern sheet. The pattern sheet can be emailed to your nearest Kinkos store, where it can be printed for about $5, or printed on your home printer on several sheets of paper which will then need to be taped together. If using this option, be sure to download the latest version of adobe acrobat and select the "tile" option in the page layout section of your printer's settings menu.
and when you decide that you are completely hooked on sewing with elastic thread in your bobbin, you can buy an enormous cone of it here.
Download the pattern sheet here
Download the Instructions here
Reader Comments (77)
Cool. Can't wait to take a look at this. :)
My Mendocino fabric arrived today. Just in time for a new dress pattern!
xo Berrie
I am friends with one of the girls in your sewing class at Patchwork. She showed me this dress and I confess - I thought of steeling it from her - it was so fantastic! Thank you, Heather! For the pattern, and for keeping me from turning into a thief. :)
Is this what will the book will be like? I can't wait.
I'm so glad to hear that it will go to good use!
Can't wait to see the finished product...
Oh, and I also added some links for elastic thread sources.
Oh how lovely! I saw that you were teaching how to make this dress at Purl and I was so sad I live in Australia....sooooo far away. Thank you for putting up the pattern, I am goin gto give it a try.
Thank you so much Heather! What a cute dress :)
Nutmeg
materialmama.com
What a lovely pattern! Thanks so much for sharing it. :)
thanks for sharing your pattern, heather! i already make dress like this for my girls, but i would love one for myself - this will be perfect.
Gorgeous! I'd love to make this dress. I love your designs and am so glad I found your blog. Looking forward to seeing more!
Is anyone else have difficulty with the instruction portion of the download?
I just got my mermaid fabric yesterday, I LOOOOOVE it. Can't wait to make the dress. thank you!
Wonderful! I love it! Can someone please tell me when you send the pattern to KINKOS, what size of paper should I request it be printed on?
Thanks ♥
Has anyone had trouble printing the pattern page on a mac? I have the latest version of adobe acrobat, but can't seem to find any options for "tile." Help! I'm dying to make this dress before the weather turns too cold to wear it!
Thank you so much! It's Christmas time and I will go visit my grandchildren. I'm a missionary in Colombia and didn't have much funds to get presents to take them but I do have tons of love and some fabric and a sewing machine to make some simple and yet beautiful things like this sun dress. Thank you for sharing. Christmas is about giving... and you're doing it. God bless you. If you have any more free patterns to share... for a boy 5yrs old... I'd appreciate it. Merry Christmas 2008!
Hi,
Quick question about the elastic thread:
The directions say to be sure not to stretch the elastic thread when making the bobbin: Should I be hand winding the bobbin?
Thanks!
Ooops, I just re-read the instructions. Question answered. Sorry to bother you.
Hi ,
I have just found your website and love it. I am trying to print the pattern but its just printing one page is this because the pattern is no longer available?
Hello ! It's been a crazy week but we got back to classes today and all went well with our return
http://www.veazeys.com/archives/000023.html , yupiii.
What a cute dress! Thanks so much for sharing it!
You know what, you're so nice. Thanks for sharing this great pattern and elastic thread tips!
Thanks so much for the pattern and your notes on what body types this dress will suit. I origionally thought of my daughter when I saw this, but now am also considering making one for myself. I think using 2 very different fabrics will ensure we dont look like "twins". I love your generous spirit, what a lovely Easter gift!
I am unable to print this out, either. No matter what I try, the PDF automatically shrinks to fit on one 8.5x11" page. I can't find the tiling option...if anyone has had success, would you please post how you managed this? Cheers!
If you aren't able to print the pattern out yourself, try emailing it to Kinkos. It costs about $5 to have them print it!
If you are having trouble printing, it may be because your printer is not set up for tiling large files.
There is a free utilty that will do this for you at Sourceforge, but you will have to download and install it yourself.
Heather,
Thank you very much for posting this pattern. Can you give the dimensions of what the dress should be on the pattern page if I print it out at home?
I was able to get tiling to work, but the pattern appears large to me (12 pages)! If I know your intended dimensions, I think it will save me from cutting too much fabric and making waste.